What makes Audioslave by Audioslave notable?

The album debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 and received significant acclaim, propelling Audioslave into mainstream rock success. It garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance for 'Cochise', highlighting its impact on the early 2000s rock landscape and solidifying the band's role in bridging alternative metal with melodic songwriting. Released on July 29, 2003, Audioslave was the band's self-titled debut album, following the breakup of Rage Against the Machine. This marked Chris Cornell's first major project after Soundgarden's dissolution, positioning Audioslave as a fresh start for both him and the instrumentalists who had shifted from a politically charged sound to explore more personal themes.

How many songs are on Audioslave?

Audioslave has 4 tracks, running approximately 13 minutes.

Audioslave

Audioslave · 2003

13 min · 4 tracks · alternative rock

A powerful blend of hard rock riffs and soulful melodies, merging raw energy with introspective lyrics.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Cochise — Opening with explosive guitar work and driving rhythms, this track sets the tone for the album, showcasing Cornell's vocal prowess and the band's dynamic energy.
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Like a Stone — This track presents a hauntingly beautiful melody paired with reflective lyrics, demonstrating the band's ability to blend emotional depth with powerful instrumentation.
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Show Me How to Live — With an infectious groove and poignant lyrical themes about existential exploration, this song exemplifies the fusion of hard rock and introspective songwriting that defines the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

58 /100

Treeline

Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

The album combines powerful rock elements with introspective lyrics, showcasing strong songwriting and performance.

What we noticed

The first three tracks feature heavy guitar riffs paired with Chris Cornell's soaring vocals, establishing a high-energy opening.
Each of the first three songs has a distinct structure, with varying dynamics that shift from aggressive choruses to more subdued verses.
The album includes introspective lyrics that contrast with the hard rock instrumentation, creating a tension between sound and message.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — This debut album established Audioslave's reputation and brought them mainstream success.
Career context: Released on July 29, 2003, Audioslave was the band's self-titled debut album, following the breakup of Rage Against the Machine. This marked Chris Cornell's first major project after Soundgarden's dissolution, positioning Audioslave as a fresh start for both him and the instrumentalists who had shifted from a politically charged sound to explore more personal themes.
Stylistic neighbors: Soundgarden· Rage Against the Machine· Stone Temple Pilots